Autism Assist: Building a Supportive Community at Mutual of Omaha

What began as a casual comment in a meeting became the spark behind a meaningful support and resource group at Mutual of Omaha.

 “I just happened to mention that my son has autism,” said Kent Walton, creative supervisor on the Brand Marketing Team. That simple moment of openness led to something bigger. 

“Molly and I got to talking, and it just kind of took off from there,” Walton said.

 For Molly Jensen, an account manager in Brand Marketing, that moment was exactly what she needed.

“My son (who is now 5) was just going through the diagnosis process. I’d never talked to another parent that had an autistic kiddo. I grabbed him right away and I was like, I have so many questions.”

 After a conversation with Mutual of Omaha’s associate Health Services team, that moment turned into Autism Assist, a growing internal community for employees who are autistic or care for someone who is.

The group has 116 members ranging from parents and grandparents to siblings and individuals on the spectrum.

A space to connect and share

Initially focused on sharing resources, Autism Assist quickly grew into something deeper. “It’s gone from just sharing resources to sharing experiences too,” said Walton.

 They quickly discovered they needed to expand the group's reach.

“We were appealing to not just parents,” Jensen said. “We had somebody who joined whose brother was on the spectrum. We had somebody who joined who was on the spectrum themselves. That's when it hit us. Autism Assist is for anyone who has a loved one — or yourself — on the spectrum.”

 “It is just a support system of people who I know understand,” Jensen said. “We’re all still in the thick of it ... It’s so nice there’s a group of people who get it.”

Walton’s own journey had started years earlier in a small town in western Nebraska, where his family had few options.

“We knew for a long time, even before the diagnosis, that my son probably had autism. But there just were no resources out there — for parents or kids.”

After moving to Omaha in 2013, he was struck by how many more resources were available. Walton, whose son is now 25, said the group is what he wished he’d had years ago.

“To see this come together and have parents share ideas and resources is very fulfilling.”

Looking ahead

Autism Assist will continue to host monthly virtual meetups for associates and plans to explore future in-person events.

Walton emphasized the importance of keeping the group active.

“I don’t want it to be just resources sitting out there. It’s an ongoing conversation that never ends.”

Walton and Jensen are also active members of the Advocates for All Abilities (A3) employee resource group, where they have contributed to panel discussions and educational events.

A3 is dedicated to breaking down barriers and building capabilities by offering awareness, education, resources, and support to both managers and individual contributors affected by visible and invisible disabilities.